Real Madrid have what it takes in the squad to replace Manchester United-bound Casemiro, according to Carlo Ancelotti.
Ancelotti confirmed on Friday that Casemiro had expressed his desire to leave Madrid in order to join United.
The holding midfielder, who has been crucial to Madrid s success under both Ancelotti and Zinedine Zidane, is in line to move to Old Trafford for a fee in the region of £51million (€60m), with add-ons potentially taking the deal to £59.4m (€70m).
While Ancelotti has no issues with the 30-year-old s want for a new challenge, Casemiro s departure leaves a void in Madrid s midfield, with the Brazil international having formed a formidable trio with Toni Kroos and Luka Modric.
That midfield conquered Europe last season and led …
Xavi has been backed to enjoy a remarkable coaching career by former team-mate Andres Iniesta, despite Barcelona s Champions League exit on Wednesday.
Barca trail Real Madrid by just three points at the top of LaLiga after winning nine of their first 11 games this season, but have received heavy criticism following another European failure.
Inter s 4-0 win over Viktoria Plzen put Barca out of contention for a top-two finish in Group C on Wednesday, and the Blaugrana failed to salvage any pride in a subsequent 3-0 home defeat to Bayern Munich – their sixth consecutive Champions League loss to the Bavarians.
Iniesta, however, believes Xavi will recover from that setback, telling Corriere dello Sport it brings him so much joy to see his former midfield partner in …
An emotional Gonzalo Higuain called time on a glittering playing career after Inter Miami s exit from the MLS Playoffs on Monday.
The former Argentina international, who won 75 caps for his country, was on the losing side as Miami were beaten 3-0 by reigning champions New York City FC.
Higuain had confirmed his plan to retire earlier this month and was in tears as he left the field, with a career that included spells with Real Madrid, Napoli and Juventus now at an end.
I felt like what I had loved the most as a job had ended. It was half my life, my career, 17 and a half years, said Higuain, who previously spoke of plans to become a mental health coach, as he explained why he was moved to tears.
Images from my entire career came to my mind – what I li…
Bristol City manager Liam Manning was left to rue another disappointing showing after Sunday s 1-1 draw with Championship strugglers Cardiff City.
Manning s side are eight places and six points clear of bottom-side Cardiff after a frustrating performance at Ashton Gate.
Luke McNally s powerful header 17 minutes from time rescued the hosts after Bluebirds winger Ollie Tanner had the away side ahead with a fine individual goal in the second half of the Severnside derby.
Tanner and Rubin Colwill both missed presentable chances with Cardiff leading and Manning conceded his side were far too open in a performance that has characterised their stop-start campaign.
I think when I look at the week, it s probably a little bit of us this season. I m frustrated, I t…
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Italy and Israel will lock horns with each other in the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League A next week. The Group 2 game between Luciano Spalletti’s side and Ran Ben Shimon’s team will be held at Stadio Friuli in Udine and is scheduled to kick off at 7:45 pm UK time next Monday.
Italy
Italy are one of the major footballing nations in the world and are one of the most decorated. The Azzurri are expected to win major competitions like the World Cup and the European Championship.
Luciano Spalletti’s side are doing well in the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League A at the moment. Italy are at the top of Group 2 with six points from two matches, three points ahead of France and Belgium, who are second an…
Stoke City have agreed to sell Josh Laurent to Sivasspor in the summer transfer window, according to . The report has claimed that Stoke, who are in the Championship in England, have accepted a bid from Turkish club Sivasspor for Laurent.
Birmingham City are also interested in Laurent, but it is Sivasspor who have had an offer accepted by Stoke. However, the player himself is not keen on a move to the Turkish club. TEAMtalk has reported that the 29-year-old former Reading star rejected the transfer to the Sivasspor and is waiting for other opportunities before deciding his next move.
Laurent has been on the books of Stoke since the summer of 2022 when he joined on a free transfer. The midfielder made 30 starts and seven substitute appearances in the Championship for the…
Croatia are living for the moment as they prepare for a World Cup semi-final against Lionel Messi s Argentina, so says Borna Sosa.
Zlatko Dalic s team reached the final in Russia four years ago, losing to France, who will play Morocco in the other semi-final in Qatar.
Croatia were not fancied among the favourites to succeed in Qatar but overcame Brazil on penalties to reach the last four for the third time in their history.
Now they face Argentina, with the prospect of knocking both South American giants out of the World Cup should Croatia do so, they would be the first team since Germany in 2014 to manage it.
Borna Sosa was excellent against Brazil. keeping Raphinha and then Antony quiet down Croatia s left side, and the full-back has every confidence th…
Defender Kurt Zouma hopes his strong Chelsea form can continue over the second half of the season in order to seal a France place for Euro 2016 later this year.
The 21-year-old has been a key figure for Chelsea this term, making 16 starts and 18 total Premier League appearances from a possible 20 games.
Zouma has only made two substitute appearances for Les Bleus, however, and is eager to cement his place in Didier Deschamps plans prior to the tournament.
It is a big year for me personally, he said in his club s newsletter.
There are the Euros in France and of course I want to be there in the squad so I have to keep working hard with Chelsea, improving myself in training and playing games.
The tournament is at home in France, we want to win a…
Christian Benteke s below-par maiden campaign at Liverpool could cost him a spot at Euro 2016 after Belgium boss Marc Wilmots claimed the striker is full of doubt .
Benteke is Liverpool s second highest scorer this season, but his return of eight goals in 33 games has done little to repay the reported £32.5million spent to bring him to Anfield from Aston Villa.
His compatriot Romelu Lukaku is joint second in the Premier League s scoring charts with 18 strikes to his name, while only Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Edinson Cavani have scored more than Marseille striker Michy Batshuayi s 13 Ligue 1 goals this term.
Perhaps even more worrying for Benteke, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has shown a recent preference for Belgium youngster Divock Origi in his starting XI.
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Federico Valverde scored in extra time as Real Madrid advanced to the Supercopa de Espana final with a 3-2 victory over Barcelona.
Vinicius Junior gave Madrid a deserved lead shortly after the midway point of the first half in Riyadh, yet Luuk de Jong ensured the sides went in at the break level with a fortuitous equaliser.
Karim Benzema restored Los Blancos advantage in the 72nd minute, only for Ansu Fati to draw Xavi s men level once again with seven minutes left of normal time.
Valverde clipped home eight minutes into extra time, however, to set up a final clash on Sunday against either Atletico Madrid or Athletic Bilbao, who do battle in the second semi-final on Thursday.
15 Vinícius Júnior has scored 15 goals in 27 games for this sea…